The risk of ventricular arrhythmias in patients on QT prolonging drugs is indicated to be increased early after cardioversion (CV) of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm (SR). Sotalol, used to prevent AF relapse, prolongs cardiac repolarization and corrected QT interval (QTc). A pronounced QTc prolongation is an established marker of pro-arrhythmias. Our objective was to use novel technique to quantify and evaluate the diurnal variation of the QTc interval after elective CV to SR in patients on sotalol or metoprolol.

Fifty patients underwent twelve-lead Holter recording for 24hr after elective CV for persistent AF. All patients had the highest tolerable stable dose of sotalol (n=27) or metoprolol (n=23). Measurements of QT and RR intervals were performed on all valid beats.

A clear diurnal variation of both HR and QTc was seen in both groups, more pronounced in patients on sotalol, where a high percentage of heartbeats with QTc >500ms was observed, especially at night. Six patients (22%) on sotalol but none on metoprolol had >20% of all heart beats within the 24-hour recording with QTc >500ms.

Twenty-four-hour Holter recordings with QT-measurement immediately after CV demonstrated that one in five patients on sotalol had >20% of all heart beats with prolonged QTc >500ms, especially during night-time. The QTc diurnal variation was retained in patients on β-blockade or a potent class III anti-arrhythmic drug with β-blocking properties.

500 ms, especially during night-time. The QTc diurnal variation was retained in patients on β-blockade or a potent class III anti-arrhythmic drug with β-blocking properties.

To investigate the role of complete blood cell count (CBC) measures in retinal artery occlusion (RAO).

This was a case-control study, including 73 newly diagnosed RAO patients and 73 sex- and age-matched subjects without RAO. On the same day of RAO diagnosis, a blood sample was collected and CBC was determined using an automatic blood counter. Dimensional CBC indices, such as mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW), and some CBC-combined indices, including neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived NLR [dNLR=neutrophils/(white blood cells – neutrophils)] and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), were evaluated. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was also measured.

Median neutrophils, red cell distribution width (RDW), NLR and dNLR were 4.5×10

/L (IQR=3.8-5.8), 13.4% (IQR=12.7-14.75), 2.47 (IQR=1.85-3.13) and 1.70 (IQR=1.26-2.18) in RAO patients and 4×10

/L (IQR=3.18-4.93), 12.9% (IQR=12-14), 1.86 (IQR=1.42-2.44) and 1.32 (IQR=1.02-1.64) in controls. RAO patients had significantotential biomarkers of RAO.

To investigate the association between retinal microvasculature and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

The cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, China. Retinal microvasculature parameters were measured by OCTA of the optic disc, including the vessel density (VD) and retinal nerve fibre thickness of the radial peripapillary capillary. In terms of the entire macula, VD of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and foveal density (FD-300) were included. The Gensini score was used to evaluate the severity of coronary artery obstructive lesions in CAD patients.

A total of 410 participants (270 CAD patients and 140 controls) were included. Overall, participants showed significantly greater odds of having CAD in the lower versus higher VD for mean SCP, OR = 2.33 (95% CI 1.49-3.65); in the parafoveal SCP, OR = 2.68 (95% CI 1.70-4.23); and in the perifoveal SCP, OR  in CAD patients.

Patient engagement is becoming more customary in medicine development. However, embedding it in organizational decision-making remains challenging, partly due to lack of agreement on its value and the means to evaluate it. The objective of this project was to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework, with metrics, to demonstrate impact and enhance learning.

A consortium of five patient groups, 15 biopharmaceutical companies and two academic groups iteratively created a framework in a multi-phase participatory process, including analysis of its application in 24 cases.

The framework includes six components, with 87 metrics and 15 context factors distributed among (sub)components (a) Input expectations, preparations, resources, representativeness of stakeholders; (b) Activities/process structure, management, interactions, satisfaction; (c) Learnings and changes; (d) Impacts research relevance, study ethics and inclusiveness, study quality and efficiency, quality of evidence and uptake of products, empowerment, reputation and trust, embedding of patient engagement; (e) Context policy, institutional, community, decision-making contextual factors. Case study findings show a wide variation in use of metrics. There is no 'one size fits all’ set of metrics appropriate for every initiative or organization. Presented sample sets of metrics can be tailored to individual situations.

Introducing change into any process is best done when the value of that change is clear. This framework allows participants to select what metrics they value and assess to what extent patient engagement has contributed.

Five patient groups were involved in all phases of the study (design, conduct, interpretation of data) and in writing the manuscript.

Five patient groups were involved in all phases of the study (design, conduct, interpretation of data) and in writing the manuscript.

Head and neck spindle cell carcinoma (HNSpCC) is a rare histological variant associated with worse outcomes. Our objective was to identify clinicopathological factors associated with survival in patients with HNSpCC compared to patients with conventional head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Using clinical data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we performed a survival analysis in patients with HNSpCC or HNSCC between 2004 and 2016.

A total of 458 HNSpCC and 77 104 HNSCC were identified, including 17% and 16% female, respectively. Five-year disease-specific survival (DSS) was 63.90% and 73.90% in patients with HNSpCC and HNSCC, respectively. Sex (hazard ratio [HR] for females = 2.816; CI 1.139-6.965; p = 0.025) was significantly associated with DSS in HNSpCC while no association was observed between sex and DSS in HNSCC.

HNSpCC in women is a specific subgroup of HNSCC, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

HNSpCC in women is a specific subgroup of HNSCC, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

This case-controlled study aimed at evaluating whether enthesitis is possibly associated with acne vulgaris.

This study was carried out on 90 patients with acne vulgaris and 30 normal individuals who were subjected to full history talking, acne scoring system, general, dermatological, musculoskeletal examination, and musculoskeletal ultrasonography with Doppler flow.

A significant relation (P<0.05) was discovered between left femoral condyle tenderness, which increased left femoral condyle hypoechogenicity on ultrasound. Moreover, a highly significant relation (P<0.001) was established between tenderness on clinical examination and hypoechogenicity on ultrasound at three sites (right humerus epicondyle, right femoral condyle, and left humerus epicondyle). An association between tenderness and ultrasound increased thickness was significantly reported in the left femoral condyle (P<0.05). Hypoechogenicity on ultrasound examination was more statistically evident with increased acne severity at the left Achilles tendon (LA), while enthesis calcifications (enthesophytes) were significantly associated with increased acne severity in the left humerus epicondyle (LA) and the right Achilles tendon (RA) (P<0.05).

There is a solid possibility acne is a systemic disease triggering other co-morbidities beyond skin which needs to be fully elucidated by further research evidence.

There is a solid possibility acne is a systemic disease triggering other co-morbidities beyond skin which needs to be fully elucidated by further research evidence.

A questionnaire-based study was conducted to understand the pros and cons of online education among undergraduate dental students across India. The study was also proposed to assess the mental and physical well-being of the students amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

A total of 533 undergraduate dental students across India participated in a cross-sectional study by means of virtual survey. A self-designed questionnaire was created using google forms. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions and was divided into two parts, first, regarding the academic outcome of online dental education and second, psychological and physical well-being of the students in reference to online dental education. A descriptive statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS statistics software.

In the present study, 91.6% students reported that the format of dental education was shifted to online lectures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 86.4% students suggested that they preferred offline lectures rather than online lectureso meet their education requirements. Also, there is a need of regular counselling and other measures to alleviate the students from the psychological stresses.Smart textiles with a multifunctional surface, such as with photoluminescence, antimicrobial, and superhydrophobic properties, are highly desirable. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared and immobilized onto a cotton surface using a facile pad-dry-curing technique to introduce long-lasting antimicrobial properties. The morphology of the silver immobilized cotton fibres was explored using scanning electron microscopic images and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra. The morphology of the formed Ag NPs was determined using a transmission electron microscope. Ag NPs exhibited uniform spreading and a high deposition density with a particle diameter in the range 25-55 nm. Both photoluminescence and superhydrophobic properties were explored by studying the cotton samples treated with hexadecyltrimethoxysilane nanocomposite containing lanthanide-doped strontium oxide aluminate NPs. Ultraviolet-visible light absorption, phosphorescence, and lifetime spectra were measured. The produced transparent superhydrophobic and photoluminescent film showed two absorbance bands at 273 and 367 nm and emission bands at 415 and 437 nm, as recognized by both absorption and emission spectra. Excellent antibacterial activities towards E. coli and S. aureus were monitored for the coated samples. Both fastness and colorimetric properties of Ag NPs-coated fabrics were explored.Influenza A viruses contain two S-acylated proteins, the ion channel M2 and the glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA). Acylation of the latter is essential for virus replication. Here we analysed the expression of each of the 23 members of the family of ZDHHC acyltransferases in human airway cells, the site of virus replication. RT-PCR revealed that every ZDHHC acyltransferase (except ZDHHC19) is expressed in A549 and Calu cells. Interestingly, expression of one ZDHHC, ZDHHC22, is upregulated in virus-infected cells; this effect is more pronounced after infection with an avian compared to a human virus strain. The viral protein NS1 triggers ZDHHC22 expression in transfected cells, whereas recombinant viruses lacking a functional NS1 gene did not cause ZDHHC22 upregulation. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was then used to knock-out the ZDHHC22 gene in A549 cells. However, acylation of M2 and HA was not reduced, as analysed for intracellular HA and M2 and the stoichiometry of S-acylation of HA incorporated into virus particles did not change according to MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis.